ALCYONARIA. 311 



The coeneuchyma is moderately thick, both on the main stem and on the branches, 

 the terminations of which are knob-like. The colour is practically white, not yellow 

 as in HICKSON'S specimens. 



Verrucoe are absent, the position of the polyps being marked by oval-shaped 

 openings. 



The spicules agree in measuring not more than 0'2 millim. 



From these specimens it has been possible to corroborate HICKSON'S discovery of 

 viviparity in this species, but the disc-like embryos only measured 0'4 millim. by 

 0'39 millim. in size. Here we may be allowed to note our discovery of embryos in 

 Juncoptilum sp., from ALCOCK'S Indian Ocean collection. 



Localities: Station I., off Negombo, 12 fathoms to 20 fathoms; deep water off 

 Galle and onwards to Colombo, hauls off Kaltura and off Mount Lavinia. 



Previously recorded from 10 miles south of Cape St. Blaize (HiCKSON, 1902). 



Rhipidogorgia (?) sp. 



A large fan-shaped reticulate colony was found, but so much weathered that secure 

 identification was impossible. 



FAMILY : GOIiGONELLID^E. 



Scirpearella aurantiaca, n. sp. Plate IV., fig. 7 ; Plate V., fig. 15. 



The collection included several portions of what seems a new species of this genus. 

 We have studied a fork-shaped fragment which has a total length of 366 millims. 

 The lower part of the colony is wanting, but the axis at the point where it divides 

 measures 2 millims. in diameter. It is cylindrical in shape, very calcareous and 

 smooth in the one branch, but marked by two or three slight winding grooves in the 

 lower part of the other. The general colour of the branches is yellowish -white. A 

 larger specimen, 470 millims. in length, bore a small comatulid on one of its branches. 



The verrucse occur on all sides of the branches. They are conical in shape, 

 truncated at the tip, and measuring 2 millims. in maximum height and 1'5 millims. 

 in basal diameter. In colour they resemble the stem in the lower part, but the tip is 

 orange-yellow, thus standing out against the general colour of the branches. The 

 edges of the oral end curve inwards, and all stages from an opening with an 8-lobed 

 margin to a simple pore-like opening and finally to a completely closed tip may be 

 seen. 



The polyps are all completely withdrawn into the coenenchyma. The general 

 coenenchyma is yellowish-white in colour, granular in texture, and only of medium 

 thickness. It is practically composed of spindles and double clubs. 



The spicules are small in size, and measure, length by breadth in millimetres, as 

 follows : 



(1.) Spindles, 0'06 X 0'02 ; 0'08 X 0'02 ; 0'085 X 0'03. 



(2.) Double clubs, 0'055 X 0'03 ; 0'07 X 0'04 ; 0'06 X 0'04. 



